This is going to be a heck of a year for the entertainment industry. Between Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars Episode IX coming out, and Game of Thrones and The Big Bang Theory wrapping up shortly on television, 2019 might go down as one of the biggest years for television and cinema ever — and that’s not counting the tons of other great stuff that’s been coming out.

Cloven Hand

When: Saturday, May 18

Where: Amigos Cantina

What: This is something a little bit different from your regular Saskatoon music fare. Cloven Hand is an all-instrumental rock group playing stuff that wouldn’t be out of place in a video game featuring a grizzled hero battling mightily against vampires and werewolves and other monsters.

The sound is dark, heavy, and pulsating from start to finish — but it’s also just kind of fun. And it’s a local group. Cloven Hand is very straightforward about what they are, and the music reflects that. If you need some unrelenting rock soundtracks to beef up your daily life, this is the stuff for you.

Jenn Grant

When: Thursday, May 16

Where: The Bassment

What: Jenn Grant — from the awesomely-named Lake Echo in Nova Scotia — is situated in a very interesting niche as far as music goes. Is it pop? Is it folk? Is it some brand of lighter psychedelic rock? There’s a little bit of everything.

Grant’s description online of her genre “walking the lines of Indie Folk” seems pretty accurate. The light use of strings, Grant’s ethereal vocals and the deft touch of layering in different sounds and instruments makes this music really sing. Grant’s music is a kaleidoscope of colour and thoughtfulness spinning through our ears, and a concert at The Bassment seems like a great place to enjoy this relaxed style.

Kay the Aquanaut

When: Friday, May 17

Where: Black Cat Tavern

What: Hip-hop with a twist is what Kay the Aquanaut brings to the table. Also, interesting name (Aquanaut?) for an artist who comes from the flat and landlocked province of Saskatchewan, but I digress. Kay’s music spans the spectrum from high-paced rap to slower, almost psychedelic bridges in his lyrics.

It’s not a surprise that Kay the Aquanaut has released multiple albums and is about to embark on a tour across Europe. In this day and age, you win in the music world by bringing something that’s both unique and great to hear. Kay the Aquanaut has that, so the tour sendoff concert should be a fun one.